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In this episode, I explain why I don’t offer free consultation calls and why that decision is grounded in ethics, safety, and respect for therapeutic labor. I unpack the myth of the “quick 15-minute call,” why it almost always turns into unpaid therapy adjacent work, and the very real risks of engaging in clinical conversations without informed consent.

I talk openly about mandated reporting concerns, client safety, sexual harassment in the therapy room, and why structure and intake paperwork aren’t cold or rigid; they’re protective. I also challenge the idea that something being “standard practice” makes it ethical, especially in a profession where unpaid emotional labor (particularly from women) is deeply normalized.

This episode is a candid look at boundaries, burnout, transparency, chronic illness, and why the intake session is the consultation just done ethically, thoroughly, and with consent.

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Read more at bothsidesofthecouch.substack.com or karirusnakcounseling.com/bothsidesofthecouch

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